Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev for 2nd straight Australian Open title

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — There’s all types of the way past merely the rating to measure simply how dominant Jannik Sinner was whereas outplaying and irritating Alexander Zverev through the 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory Sunday that earned the 23-year-old Italian a second consecutive Australian Open championship.

The zero break factors Sinner confronted. Or the ten he accrued. The 27-13 benefit in factors that lasted not less than 9 strokes. Or the best way Sinner accrued extra winners, 32 to 25, and fewer unforced errors, 27 to 45. The way in which Sinner gained 10 of the 13 factors that ended with him on the web. Or the best way he solely let Zverev go 14 of 27 in that class, often zipping passing pictures out of attain.

Properly, right here’s is another little bit of proof: what Zverev mentioned about Sinner.

“I’m serving higher than him, however that’s it. He does every part else higher than me. He strikes higher than me. He hits his forehand higher than me. He hits his backhand higher than me. He returns higher than me. He volleys higher than me,” Zverev mentioned. “On the finish of the day, tennis has 5 – 6 huge pictures — like, huge components — and he does 4 or 5 of them higher than me. That’s the rationale why he gained.”

Excessive reward from a man who’s, in any case, ranked No. 2. Sinner has held the No. 1 spot since final June and will not be displaying any indicators of relinquishing it. This was the primary Australian Open ultimate between the lads at No. 1 and No. 2 since 2019, when No. 1 Novak Djokovic defeated No. 2 Rafael Nadal — additionally in straight units.

“It’s superb,” Sinner mentioned, “to attain this stuff.”

The “issues” embrace being the youngest man to depart Melbourne Park with the trophy two years in a row since Jim Courier in 1992-93, and the primary man since Nadal on the French Open in 2005 and 2006 to observe up his first Grand Slam title by repeating because the champion on the identical event a yr later.

Sinner was requested later whether or not he felt extra reduction or pleasure when he raised his arms after the final level was his.

“This one was pleasure. We managed to do one thing unbelievable this time, as a result of the state of affairs I used to be in was fully totally different from a yr in the past right here,” he mentioned. “I had extra strain.”

Most likely true, however’s arduous to inform.

Go to the beginning of 2024, and take inventory. In that span, Sinner has gained three of the 5 main tournaments, together with the U.S. Open in September, which means he now has claimed three straight hard-court Slams. His file is 80-6 with 9 titles. His present unbeaten run covers 21 matches.

“There’s all the time one thing that may get higher,” mentioned one in all his two coaches, Simone Vagnozzi. “He’s enjoying rather well proper now and every part comes simply. However there can be robust moments forward.”

The one factor that’s clouded the previous 12 months for Sinner, it appears, is the doping case during which his exoneration was appealed by the World Anti-Doping Company. He examined optimistic for a hint quantity of an anabolic steroid twice final March however blamed it on an unintended publicity involving two members of his crew who’ve since been fired. Sinner initially was cleared in August; a listening to within the WADA attraction is scheduled for April.

“I preserve enjoying like this as a result of I’ve a transparent thoughts on what occurred,” Sinner mentioned Sunday. “I do know if I might be responsible, I might not play like this.”

Whereas he turned the eighth man within the Open period (which started in 1968) to start out his profession 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, Zverev is the seventh to be 0-3, including this loss to these on the 2020 U.S. Open and final yr’s French Open.

These earlier setbacks each got here in 5 units. This contest was not that shut. Under no circumstances.

“I’ll preserve doing every part I can,” Zverev mentioned, “to carry a type of trophies.”

Simply earlier than Zverev started talking right into a microphone through the trophy ceremony, a voice cried out from the stands, making reference to 2 of the participant’s ex-girlfriends who accused him of bodily abuse.

Through the match, there actually was just one second that contained a touch of rigidity. It got here when Zverev was two factors from proudly owning the second set at 5-4, love-30. However a break level — and a set level — by no means arrived.

A yr in the past, Sinner went by much more hassle to earn his first main, needing to get previous Novak Djokovic — who stop one set into his semifinal towards Zverev on Friday due to a torn hamstring — earlier than erasing a two-set deficit within the ultimate towards 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev.

This time, Sinner utilized strain with an all-around fashion that doesn’t actually seem to have holes.

He proved superior in each significant manner aside from aces, leaving Zverev shaking his head or trudging to the sideline with shoulders sagging or cracking his racket towards the court docket or towards one other racket.

Completely comprehensible, given what Sinner can do to an opponent, particularly on a tough court docket.

“The info communicate for themselves,” Zverev mentioned. “He’s in a special universe proper now.”

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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis author since 2002. Discover his tales right here: https://apnews.com/creator/howard-fendrich. Extra AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis